Technical Abstract:
Currently, most Valencia peanuts are grown in single rows on 36 to 40 inch beds. Because of their bunch-type and erect growth habit, Valencia peanuts do not spread over the whole bed and have the opportunity to benefit from multiple row planting design. This study was conducted near Clovis, NM to compare single row, twin row, and diamond planting patterns in Valencia peanut on 36 inch beds. The diamond pattern is established by planting 4 rows on a bed and placing seed equidistant from each other to optimize individual plant growing space. This study included five planting treatments, including single row, twin row, and one diamond treatment with equal populations (~87,000 seed per acre). Two additional diamond treatments were planted to establish 60% and 80% populations compared to the single row treatment. At mid-season, each plot was sampled by pulling all plants in a 0.5 meter by 3 foot area for biomass partitioning. This was done to document mid-season plant productivity and growth stage on an area basis to compare the five planting arrangements. Two weeks prior to harvest, another sample was pulled from the plots to estimate maturity. Farmer stock yield of single row plots averaged 3175 lb per acre which was significantly less than the 4000 to 4325 lb per acre produced by twin row and diamond planting patterns. Peanut grade was similar between all planting patterns ranging between 57 and 62 resulting in value ranging between $510 and $515 per farmer stock ton. Economic analysis including seed cost and crop value were carried out to determine actual return assuming a contract price of $550 per ton and that all other production costs were fixed. Seed cost used was $35 per 50 lb and seed count was figured at 1,000 seed per lb. With these figures, single row peanuts in this study had a crop value of $810 per acre while the value of twin row and diamond planting pattern crops was between $1,030 and $1,115 per acre.